In Abuja, the only hangout spot where you can have wholesome fun all in one spot is Mabushi’s Relax and Chill.
By Calista Njoku
“Heaven on Earth. Pure bliss”. These were the thoughts that ran through my mind as we alighted from the Uber that we ordered. Ifunanya, my sister and a young nephew of mine who came to spend the weekend didn’t miss the action too. The previous week was hectic and the only thing I needed was total relaxation. Before we left home, I did a quick search of the best hang-outs in the capital city on Instagram and I saw an array of beautiful spots but Mabushi Lounge, also known as Relax and Chill stood out and its ranking on the social media is top-notch.
Its strategic location at the Uzzitz Centre for Arts and Culture near Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s house and its all-in-one place offerings make Relax and Chill a desirous hangout spot for fun seekers. The Mabushi lounge boasts an arcade, lounge, garden, restaurant, VIP bar, eatery and a gazebo all in one place. It was Mabushi’s security culture that even won my heart – the guards were well-positioned and on alert, giving guests peace of mind as they chilled.
As we made our way to the restaurant’s entrance, an elegant hostess warmly welcomed us and led us to our table. While we were contemplating what to eat, a waitress approached us and we quickly placed our orders. My sister ordered coconut rice and I opted for nkwobi because I’m a meat person. I must confess that it was delectable – the best ever. My young nephew was treated to ‘shamama’ (as he fondly calls shawarma) and orange juice, his favourite. With our glasses of cocktail and mocktail blended by the adorable and ever-smiling mixologist Ugochinyere Asa, it was time to take a walk around the inviting environment. But I needed someone to mind my nephew as we wanted time to have all the fun there was. A child-minder was on hand to attend to him and he chaperoned him to the kiddies section. He must have had a lot of fun as he was still in his playsuit by the time we returned.
Ifunanya and I went on to see other sections of the vicinity. Our first stop was at the shawarma spot where some customers were seated nibbling on the crunchy popcorn. Then we made our way to the game arcade; here, we played the island game. It was so hilarious watching a gamer immersed in virtual reality, swinging his arms in the air trying ‘to punch an invisible enemy’. We had a good laugh and were reliably informed that there were other games such as Mortal combat for various gaming consoles like Play Station 4 and 5.
We moved on to the love triangle where a wedding and dedication took place the previous weekend; such cute lovey-dovey chairs are heart-shaped designed and in the colour of love and can take about 50 people comfortably. We made a brief stop at the water fountain, which was glowing in the dark and took some lovely photographs. We then proceeded to sit at the VIP bar and settled down for a round of red wine drinks courtesy of a friend. We drank, danced and had fun. Directly overlooking us was a ready-made ready-to-use stage where artistes can perform.
Pressed, I requested the convenience to answer the call of nature and was taken to the neatly maintained bathroom with an Italian-styled WC and sparkling white tiles. Everywhere I turned, I could see people at different stages of relaxation hangouts having fun, smiling and nodding to the various musical beats. I made a promise to myself to return to this place with my colleagues for our class anniversary. All we have to do is book choice sections in advance, come in gorgeously dressed and we would be treated to select performances and served choice meals from the restaurant by the seasoned chefs.
- Shalom Aruya, a senior supervisor at the restaurant said Relax and Chill is the number one all-fun go-to place in the capital city and it is available on ride-hailing apps with the address Relax and Chill, Orji Uzor Kalu close to Mabushi Abuja. She added that one of the philosophies of the most-sought hangout is that the lounge creates the opportunity for customers to relax, smile and attract greatness in everything they do, pointing out that at Relax and Chill, you can only be relaxed, while chilling and having fun.
Speaking on the philosophy behind the name, ‘Relax and Chill,’ Aruya said the name is intended for aesthetics and to convey the vision of the CEO which is to provide Abuja residents and their friends and relatives an avenue to relax, have fun and host large parties all in one place. Shalom added that the hangout spot boasts top-notch and thoughtful customer service. Also, the hangout does doorstep deliveries and has its hotlines on its social media handles.
Calista Njoku is a realtor and fashion enthusiast. She lives in Abuja
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
